Dyeboarding plant



y 1965 G. s. HELLIWELL ETAL 3,181,750

DYEBOARDING PLANT Original Filed Dec. 18, 1961 United States Patent 3,181,750 DYEBOARDING PLANT Guy S. Helliwell, Kirby Muxloe, and John L. Swindall, Humberstone, England, assignors to Samuel Pegg 3; Son Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Original application Dec. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 160,222. Divided and this application July 18, 1963, Ser. No. 295,942 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 23, 1960,

. 44,256/60 6 Claims. (Cl. 223-76) The present application is a divisional from application Serial No. 160,222 of G. S. Helliwell and I. L. Swindall filed December 18, 1961, and entitled Dyeboarding System. The instant invention is concerned with dyeboarding systems for the finishing of textile garments, i.e. systems in which manufactured garments are shaped on forms and are also dyed, whilst on these forms. Ladies stockings are a very typical example of garments which can be finished in this way and/for convenience, the following description will be confined to this particular application, it being understood that the invention also covers analogous applications.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plant for finishing textile garments by a process in which these garments, mounted on forms, are successively subjected to separate treatment steps comprising (a) exposure of the goods to steam at superatmospheric pressure in a closed chamber, (12) showering of the goods with dye or similar treating liquor at atmospheric, or substantially atmospheric pressure to dye them, and (0) exposure of the goods to hot air for-drying the same, the forms being stationary and maintain in situ in a singletreating zone throughout these treatment steps.

Such a possibility affords a number of, advantages, some of which will later be mentioned. Not least of these ad vantages is the fact that this arrangement avoids the shifting of the goods from one zone to another between finishing steps and thus avoids the delay and temperature losses which this inevitably involves, and possible contamination of goods.

Another object ofthe invention is a plant in which the various steps can be carried out in automatic sequence and each for a pre-set period. This affords a rational and at all times uniform treatment, which can be adjusted as found judicious.

It is, moreover, an advantage to shower the goods with dye liquor, inasmuch as the liquor can then be used in economical doses. Further, each such dose of liquor being recirculated and re-used in dyeing a particular batch of goods and then' discharged, each batch of goods is treated with fresh, clean liquor.

Yet another object is a plant comprising a treating chamber which can be closed to enclose form-mounted garments in a treating zone, a showering means located above said treating zone, a liquor feed pump connected at one side tosaid showering means and at the other side to a liquor 'drain from the chamber, steam' admission means in said chamber connecting to an external steam source, and hot air blowing and evacuating means.

A device, e.g. a series of cams on a common camshaft, can be used to control the automatic and sequential operation of valves and other units governing the. admission or supply of various treatment media to the treatment zone. The closed chamber may be formed by a vessel,

conveniently cylindrical, having an upper section, or bell, which can be raised and lowered relatively to a fixed base,

3,181,750 Patented May 4, l95

down position before and during the finishing treatments.

The plant will advantageously also include a pump for recirculating dyeing'liquor through the shower device and the vessel during a dyeing step, thereby to make maxi mum efi'ective use of each dose of dyeing liquor, as referred to above. This pump can be arranged to receive to receive each dose from a more voluminous static reservoir, and the infeed and draining of each successive dose, and the starting and stopping of the pump, can be controlled by valve means in the main air system ofvthe plant and controlled from the aforesaid camshaft.

p Again, the plant mayinclude means to heat each dose ofdyeing liquor during its recirculation and when actually dyeing, i.e. to maintain this dose (which may in any event be preheated in the reservoir) accurately at the requisite dyeing temperature at 'the critica1 tirne. Thislheating means, or make-up heating means, any involve the use of a heat exchanger which is charged withavailable steam atappropriate times once again by the timed opening of valve means in the main air system. Y

The steam for boarding purposes can be admitted through nozzles or apertures in the chamber (i.e. in the fixed bottom section of the latter), and once again can be cut in or out by valves controlled by the camshaft referred to. The steam admission to these nozzles or apertures can be'branched to the dye liquor pre-heating means in the reservoir and make-up heater (e.g. exchanger). 7

Furthermore the steam valves governing the admission of boarding steam to the closed chamber may be automatically regulable, tovmaintain pre-set treatment tern-Z peratures, by thermostatic means in this chamber. Similar thermostatic means can be used to regulate the temperature at the heat exchanger, thereby to maintain the dyeing liquor at correct temperature at the point of use.

'Each dose of dyeing liquor is conveniently gravity fed from a dye liquor reservoir which is self-filling with fresh dye liquor at a pre-set, but adjustable, concentration. This reservoir, in fact, has associated therewith a dye bowl, each with a self-metering mechanism, whichfis arranged to discharge a specific quantity of dye, or dye and additives or equivalent, into the reservoir simultaneously with the withdrawal of mixed liquor therefrom by the pump. At the same time water is added to thereservoir, and the simultaneous operation of the dye concentrate, and water feeds, and the delivery of the dose of mixed liquor can be implemented by a single valve which, again, is incorporated on the main air'system.

By a further feature of the invention, the apparatus also includes an advantageous form of fixed drying equipment which is arranged to project 'hotair in a positive cyclethrough the dyed goods still standing in the treatment zone,.but with the bell of the vessel raised.

A form of dyeboarding" system within the presentform of a vertically-movable cylindrical hell with a' domed top, and a fixed, shallow dished, part-spherical base 2. i

The cylindrical hell 1 is capable of being raised. and

lowered by means of a pair of jacks of known form attached to opposite sides thereof, a part of one of these jacks being diagrammatically indicated at 3. The reins of the jacks are raised by compressed air supplied through a line 68 connected ina main air system with which the plant isv provided (see below), and the air supply to opcrate the jacks is controlled by a cam-operated reversible valve 69.

When the bell 1 is in its bottom position its lower edge is firmly seated, through packing means, on a rim on the base 2 to close the chamber. In this closed condition, i.e. that shown in the drawing, the bell is secured to the base by locking means (not shown but also of known form) which are actuated by a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit 4- operable by air impulses through a line 5' also connected in the main air system with which the plant is equipped. In this case the supply of operating air to the respective sides of the cylinder of the unit 4 is under the control of a cam-operated reversing valve 70.

The base section 2 also serves to support a pair of parallel horizontal rails 6 forming a section of track within the closed container and intended for support of a stockingform carriage. Aligned with this track section 6, outside the chamber 1, 2 and extending from opposite sides of the latter, are two similartrack sections (not shown), and the principle is that a carriage, such as 7, carrying upstanding stocking forms 8, can run from one of the external trackway sections at required times on to the central sections 6, whilst a second such carriage is expelled from the latter to run out on to the other external trackway section.

This arrangement allows for alternation of two carriages at the treatment zone, so that the forms on one carriage can be stripped and reloaded with fresh stockings, whilst the stockings on the other forms are undergoing treatment. Further details of the carriages, the forms thereon and the carriage operating mechanism will not here be further described, since they can take the form described in our British Patent No. 810,605, or be such as to perform a similar function.

Also mounted on the fixed base 2 is an annular tube 9 which is perforated with a series of orifices or nozzles and is connected through a conduit 10 to a steam source. Included in the conduit 10 is a diaphragm valve (steam valve) 11 which is normally closed but is operable by air impulses from a line 72 in the aforementioned main air system, controlled by a cam-operated valve 71 (see below). The conduit 10 also includes a manually-operable shut-01f valve 12, and a reducing valve 13 which can be adjusted to suit the pressure of the incoming steam to the required figure.

A secondary control of valve 11 is exercised by a temperature-responsive instrument 56 governed by a thermostat 57 mounted in the base 2 of the retort, and arranged to operate valve 71 and thereby initiate closure of the valve 11 through a branch line 73 also connected in the main air system, when a specific temperature, which can be preset in the instrument 56, prevails in the chamber 1, 2.

The dome of the bell 1 is equipped with air vents 14, which may also be operable by air from the main air sy em, and a spring loaded pressure relief valve 15 to place an upper limit on the pressure developed at any time within the closed chamber. The base 2 is provided with drain and steam exhaust means which, in this instance, is assumed to be a single opening at the centre of base 2. This is coupled to a conduit 16 leading to a drain.

A further fixture at the treatment zone A is a pipe 17 which upstands from the base 1 and is angled at its upper end and there carries a shower head 18 representing a dye liquor distributor. Conveniently this shower head will comprise a hollow casing with a plurality of sprinkler orifices distributed over the lower surface thereof in a pattern suited for the arrangement of forms closed up in packs on a carriage 7 standing in the retort.

Mounted in a convenient position in the vicinity of the treatment zone A is a dye liquor reservoir in the form of a closed tank 19, this being arranged for the dosing of dye liquor to the shower 17/18 at appropriate times. To this end it has, at a lower part, a filter covered outlet 29, connecting to a gravity conduit 21 in which is disposed a diaphragm valve (dye liquor valve) 22 controlled by air impulses from the main air circuit. Conduit 21 is connected through a four-way union 23 to the suction side of a dye liquor pump 24, the delivery side of which is connected through a conduit 25 with the shower standpipe 17. The union 23 is also coupled to the exhaust conduit 16, and a further diaphragm valve (exhaust valve) 26 operable by air from the main supply through a line 75 under the control of a cam-operated valve 74, is incorporated in conduit 16 at the drain side of union 23.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that having admitted liquor through valve 22 to the suction side of the pump, it is possible by closing this valve, and valve 26, to eflect a re-circulation of the admitted dose of liquor through a closed circuit consisting of the union 23, the suction side of pump 24, conduit 25, the standpipe 17, the shower head 18, over the stockings disposed in the chamber, through conduit 16, back to the suction side of the pump, and so on.

For the purpose of maintaining the temperature of dye liquor circulated in this way, it will be noted that a heat exchanger 27 is arranged in the conduit 25, this consisting of a canister in which a serpentine portion of the conduit 25 is housed and which is connected through a branch conduit 28 with the steam inlet conduit 10, and through a discharge conduit 29 with the drain conduit 16. Another diaphragm valve (exchanger valve) 39 connected to the main air system through a line 76, is interpolated in conduit at the steam inflow side of the heat exchanger 27, whilst the discharge from the latter includes a non-return valve 31 and a steam trap 32.

As will readily be observed, when valve 30 is Opened, steam from the admission conduit 10 will flow into the canister of the heat exchanger 27 and will eventually be discharged through the trap 32, in so doing maintaining the temperature of the dye liquor being circulated by the pump 24 in the closed circuit referred to above. To allow for a sensitive control of this dye temperature, a thermostat is disposed in the path of the dye liquor in the heat exchanger and is connected'through an electricallead 33 to a control instrument 34 of known type which can be preset by means of a pointer thereon, to respond at a chosen temperature to open a valve in the instrument and cause air to be passed from the main air'system to valve 30 to operate the latter and shut down valve 30 1 until required temperature conditions are restored. The dye liquor will, in fact, be supplied in preheated condition from the tank 19 (see later) and the function of the heat exchanger 27 will be to ensure and maintain the required temperature of each dose of liquor during the period it is being closed-circuited.

The preheating of the dye liquor is performed by a steam heating coil 35 which is disposed at this lower part of tank 19 and is supplied from themain steam admission conduit 10 through a branch 36 incorporating another diaphragm valve 37 connected to the main air system through a line 77, and the discharge from the coil 35 is through a conduit 38 to the drainl. Here again the steam discharge contains a non-return valve 39 and a steam trap 40.

Further, in the interest of economical operation of the system, steps are taken to exert a fairly close control on the temperature of the liquor in the tank 19, and for this purpose a thermostat in the latter is connected through a line 41 to a pre-settable, temperature-responsive instrument, 42, similar to 34 and 56, for controlling the air impulses which will respectively open and close the steam admission valve 37.

To allow for control of the proportions of the dye mixture in the tank 19, arrangements are made for the metering of the various components used. For this purpose the tank 19 is surmounted by one or more dye bowls 43 arranged to contain dye concentrate (or other required components) for the dyeing or treating mixture, and this bowl, or each of these bowls, is arranged to feed through a gravity conduit 44 into the top of the tank 19. The dye bowl or bowls can be used for making up the requireddyeing colour and may in addition, or alternatively, be used to introduce other additives to the intended mixture.

The or each dye bowl 43 is filled through its open top where it is provided with a filter 45, and it contains a stirrer 46 operable by an electric motor. The conduit 44 has a metering device 47 branched therefrom, this device consisting of a graduated tubular vessel having therein a piston which can be set to a measured position along the tube by a manually-operable screw means 48.

A diaphragm valve (metering valve) 49 at the junction of this device with the conduit 44 is operable by an air impulse from the main air system to connect the metering vessel 47 alternatively to the dye container 43 or to the tank 19, thus allowing the charging of a specific and measured small quantity of dye concentrate or like component into the latter as demanded. As will later be apparent, a make-up quantity of dye concentrate can automatically be dispensed into the tank 19 when a dose of liquor is discharged therefrom to the dyeing zone.

Simultaneously with the admission of dye concentrate or the like from the bowl or bowls 43, water is admitted to tank 19, and this through a conduit 50 in the appropriate quantity and under the dictation of yet another diaphragm valve 51. The operation of the dye-concentrate valve 49 and the water-admission valve 51 can be interlocked by control means so that the one is operated simultaneously with the other. In fact, in the system illustrated not only are the admissions of the dye concentrate and water to tank 19 interlinked with one another, but also with the discharge of doses of mixed dyeing liquor from the reservoir tank 19.

Thus it will be seen that the air lines 78, 79 and 80, respectively directing air impulses to the dye liquor dosing valve 22, the metering valve 49, and the water valve 51, are themselves branched from a line 82 of the main air system through a common cam-operated valve 81.

It will also be noted that a float 52 is provided in tank 19 as a safety device to exert an overriding control and limit the further admission of water and concentrate when the contents of the tank are at a predetermined top level. The level can be checked at any time through an external gauge 55. A stirrer 53 is also provided for ensuring a homogeneous mixing of the contents of the tank, this being operated by an electric motor 54.

Finally we refer to the means which are used for drying the treated goods in the systems. For this purpose a fixed hot air blower nozzle 58 is associated with, but unconnected to, the bell 1 and is located outside the latter so as to extend alongside the lower parts of the carriagemounted forms standing in the zone A. This directs hot air primarily towards the welts of the stockings-which require most intensive drying. At the opposite side of the zone, and in register with the nozzle 58 is a fixed suction nozzle 59, and these two nozzles are interconnected through a hot air unit which is diagrammatically indicated and generally denoted 60. In the drawing this unit appears to surmount the retort 1, 2, but this is purely a result of the diagrammatic showing and, in practice, the unit will be located adjacent the lower part of the retort and at one side thereof.

It comprises a pair of fans 61 and 62 which are operable in common and arranged so that the delivery side of fan 61 is connected to the suction side of the fan 62 through a communicating conduit 64, which is provided with a fresh-air inlet 63. Associated with fan 62 is an air heater 81 which conveniently comprises a steam heating coil connected through a conduit '65 to the same steam source as conduit 10. A steam trap 66 is provided at the return side from the heater in fan 62. Conveniently the fans 61 and 62 are electrically driven and are started in response to the closure of a switch 67 when the bell 1 is raised. The major part of the hot air will be withdrawn through the nozzle 59 and re-circulated so that a large part of its sensible heat is retained. Not only is this re-circulation economical, but it also safeguards any nearby operative from exposure to any substantial quantity of hot air.

Throughout the foregoing reference has been made to the control of the various initiating and arresting or change-over means of the system from a main air circuit. This is conveniently implemented by a set of cams on a common camshaft which are arranged so that they become effective, in timed sequence, as the result of a slow continuous rotation of the camshaft, to open valves for the intended purpose. These valves can be of a simple mechanical on-off type and have been referred to above as cam-operated valves. Where electrical operations are required, further cams on the camshaft can be arranged to operate electrical switches for this purpose. Details of this camshaft, and the means operated thereby have not been specifically illustrated, since they are common in this art and can readily be devised by any skilled person. Their function will be made even clearer by the particular example, now to be given, of the operation of a dyeing and drying process, in accordance with this invention, in the system described above.

As a prelude, it is pointed out that the basic sequence of steps in this procedure is the conveyance of a set of freshly-knitted stockings, mounted on forms on a carriage, into the treating zone A, the closure of the retort or chamber 1, 2 about the forms arrested in this zone, the introduction of steam to preboard the stockings at elevated temperature, the opening of the exhaust from the chamber to vent the steam therefrom, the showering of the stockings with a single batch of dye liquor which is recirculated over the stockings for a predetermined period and then discharged, the admission of further steam for a short period to flush the drain and, in so doing, to some extent postboard the dyed goods, the opening of the retort, the blowing of hot drying air against the goods, still standing in the treatment zone A, and the removal of the carriage from this zone.

Starting then from the juncture at which the bell 1 is raised, a carriage with dyed stockings stands beneath it with air blowing across it from 58, and a fresh carriage is standing ready outside the treating zone with untreated stockings on its forms. The operative presses the start button of the conveyance system (see British Patent No. 810,605) so that this carriage moves along its trackway into the treating zone and, in so doing, expels from the latter the old carriage with already-treated stockings.

On arrival in its end position, the fresh carriage closes a switch to start the rotation of the camshaft referred to above. The first-etfective cam on this shaft operates valve 69 so that the compressed air supply to jacks 3, which has been eifective to hold the bell 1 in its upper position, is cut off, and the bell is allowed to descend at a slow rate by a slow bleed of air from the undersides of the jack pistons. During this descent the switch 67 is operated to stop fans 61 and 62.

When the retort has reached its bottom position a second cam actuates valve 70 so as to bring the bell locking means into operation to firmly fasten the bell 1 to base 2. A safety switch (not shown) on the base can shut off the camshaft motor if the bell is not properly down at this stage.

A third cam now actuates valve 74 to close valve 26 and the drain from the chamber 1, 2, and a fourth cam operates valve 71 so that steam flows through tube 9 upwardly into the closed chamber. This steam is controlled at a temperature of about 255 F. by the thermostatic in- After a pause, the next-operative cam on the camshaft re-actuates valve 74 to close 26 and, practically simultaneously valve 81 is operated by a cam to trigger oil the dosing valve 22. As a result a dose of already-mixed dye flows through to the closed dyeing circuit described above, in an amount controlled by the operation of valve 81 by yet another cam so that valve 22 is closed and simultaneously metering valve 49 and water valve 51 are opened to admit appropriate make-up concentrate and water to tank 19.

The pump 24 is now started by operation of a microswitch from the camshaft and the quantity-controlled batch of dye liquor is repeatedly pumped up to the head 18, showered over the stockings and re-circulated. The period of such treatment, determined by the cam setting, can vary according to the type of work and treatment, but 2 /2 minutes can be given as a typical example.

Again the temperature of the dye liquor is subject to choice. However, another typical example which might be cited is a batch temperature of 200 F. (controlled at the exchanger 27 by thermostatic instrument 34), contrasting with a pre-temperature in reservoir 19 of about 130 F.

After the dyeing treatment, there is a further cam operation of valve 74, and hence of valve 26 to open the drain conduit 16, and discharge the dose of dye liquor. Following this, the vents 14 are closed and steam valve 11 is re-opened and, the drain being open, it is flushed through by the steam which, in this case, is allowed by instrument 56 to rise to a temperature only of about 235 F. There may also be a partial drying and some postboarding of the stockings.

The next cam-initiated steps are the closure of steam valve 11 and opening of vents 14, followed by actuation of valve 70 to unlock the bell and of valve 69 to raise it. When the rising bell trips switch 67 the fans 61 and 62 are started to blow hot air through the work, as described. This returns the situation to the starting point chosen above.

We claim:

1. A plant for finishing textile garments comprising a two-part retort defining a treating chamber and comprising a fixed base with a drain outlet, a bell, and means for lowering and raising said bell respectively into engagement with and away from said base, a drain conduit connected to said outlet, at least one carriage with garment forms thereon, a trackway on said base for supporting said carriage, means for transferring said carriage from the exterior to the interior of said chamber, a steam admission means mounted on said base, showering means affixed to and upstanding from said base above said trackway, a liquor-recirculation conduit between said drain conduit and said showering means, liquor heating means located externally of said retort, a liquor storage vessel connected to said drain conduit, and hot air blowing and evacuating means positioned adjacent said carriage-supporting means.

2. A plant for finishing textile garments as claimed in claim 1, in which the liquor heating means is a heat 6X- changer unit located in said recirculation conduit in advance of said showering means.

3. A plant for finishing textile garments as claimed in claim 1, further including a dye-concentrate reservoir, connected to said liquor storage vessel through a valvecontrolled concentrate conduit, a valve-controlled water supply conduit connected to said liquor storage vessel, a valve-controlled batching conduit connecting said liquor storage vessel to said drain conduit, and means for coordinate operation of the valves in said concentrate conduit, said water supply conduit and said batching conduit.

4. A plant for finishing textile garments as claimed in claim 3, further including a metering device in said concentrate conduit.

5. A plant according to claim 1, in which said hot air blowing and evacuating means comprise a blowing nozzle means disposed externally, and at one side, of said chamber, evacuating nozzle means disposed externally, and at the opposite side, of said chamber, conduit means externally of said chamber and connecting said evacuating nozzle means to said blowing nozzle means, fan means in said conduit means and heating means associated with said fan means.

6. A plant for finishing textile garments, comprising a retort provided with a fixed base having a liquid drain therein and a removable bell cover, means for opening said retort for the admission of garments and for closing the same, means for locking said retort in closed condition, conduit means through said base to admit steam freely into the interior of said retort, a dye liquor shower means affixed to said fixed base and disposed within said retort, a pump disposed outside said retort and connected at its delivery side to second conduit means passing through said fixed base to said shower means and at its suction side to said drain in said retort whereby a closed liquor circuit is formed through said pump, showerhead, retort drain and interconnecting conduitry, heat exchanger means located externally of said retort to heat dye liquor, and a dye liquor reservoir connected to said closed circuit through a liquor batching conduit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,000 5/12 Schnurrenberger 68-53 X 2,572,893 10/51 Richter 68-53 X 2,641,120 6/53 Bailey 223-76 X 2,874,884 2/59 Heliot 223-76 2,915,230 12/59 Brewin et al 223-76 2,990,088 6/61 Isken et a1. 223-76 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PLANT FOR FINISHING TEXTILE GARMENTS COMPRISING A TWO-PART RETORT DEFINING A TREATING CHAMBER AND COMPRISING A FIXED BASE WITH A DRAIN OUTLET, A BELL, AND MEANS FOR LOWERING AND RAISING SAID BELL RESPECTIVELY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH AND AWAY FROM SAID BASE, A DRAIN CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET, AT LEAST ONE CARRIAGE WITH GARMENT FORMS THEREON, A TRACKWAY ON SAID BASE FOR SUPPORTING SAID CARRIAGE, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SAID CARRIAGE FROM THE EXTERIOR TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER, A STEAM ADMISSION MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, SHOWERING MEANS AFFIXED TO AND UPSTANDING FROM SAID BASE ABOVE SAID TRACKWAY, A LIQUOR-RECIRCULATION CONDUIT BETWEEN SAID DRAIN CONDUIT AND SAID SHOWERING MEANS, LIQUOR HEATING MEANS LOCATED EXTERNALLY OF SAID RETORT, A LIQUOR STORAGE VESSEL CONNECTED TO SAID DRAIN CONDUIT, AND HOT AIR BLOWING AND EVACUATING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID CARRIAGE-SUPPORTING MEANS. 